Two Devon schools got teams through to the National Schools’ Finals. In the U-11 section, Broadclyst Primary came 6th/8 behind Eltham College and Nottingham High School. Torquay Boys’ Grammar School got four teams through to the Finals, a creditable achievement in itself. In the U-12 section they came 5th/5 teams, while in the U-14s their ‘A’ team came 3rd and ‘B’ team came 5th of five teams. There were 3 teams in the U-16 section, and Torquay came 2nd behind King Edward School, Birmingham.

The 60th Paignton Congress starts tomorrow week at Oldway Mansion. To mark this diamond event Michael Adams will be taking on 30 opponents simultaneously on the Tuesday evening and a special book on the history of the event has been written, entitled 60 Years In The Same Room (ISBN 0-9531321-5-3 157pp SB £15.99). This will be given gratis to every competitor, but extra copies will be available from the publisher at 40, Phillipps Avenue, Exmouth, EX8 3HZ.

This is a game from the book, the last of Adams’ 14 games played at Paignton, which clinched a share of 1st prize. (Notes based on those from his own book “Development of a Grandmaster”).

White: M. Adams (208). White: P. C. Griffiths (218).

Evans Gambit [C51]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 Bxb4 5.c3 Be7 6.d4 d6 Theory recommends 6…Na5 7.Nxe5 Nxc4 8.Nxc4 d5 9.exd5 Qxd5 10.Ne3 with a slight edge for White. 7.Qb3 Na5 8.Bxf7+ Kf8 9.Qa4 Kxf7 10.Qxa5 b6 11.Qb5 Bd7 12.Qe2 Bf6 13.0–0 Ne7 14.dxe5 dxe5 15.Nxe5+ An over-optimistic move, although perhaps the one most in the spirit of the opening. 15…Bxe5 16.Qh5+ Ng6 17.f4 Bf6 18.f5 Bc6 19.fxg6+ hxg6 20.Qe2 The first wave of attack has been beaten off and White has to bring up reinforcements. 20…Qd7 21.Bg5 If 21.a4 (to stop …Bb5) 21…Rae8 is hideous for White. 21…Rae8? Very strong, indeed decisive, at this stage would have been 21…Bb5! 22.c4 Qd4+ 22.Nd2 Re5? Better was 22…Rh5 although by this stage White no longer stands worse. 23.Nf3 Re7 24.Rad1 Qe8 25.Qc4+ Kf8 26.e5! The attack has grown to enormous proportions very quickly as Black has not dealt with his exposed king position. A pleasing queen sacrifice concludes the game. 26…Bb5 27.exf6 Bxc4 28.fxe7+ Kf7 If 28…Kg8 29.Rd8 wins simply, but the move played does not prolong Black’s resistance. 29.Ne5+ Ke6 30.Nxc4 Qb5 31.Rfe1+ 1-0 The winner was 14 at the time and Griffiths was a 3-times winner.

Last week’s problem was solved by 1.Nf2! In this position, how did M. Suba quickly finish off the Hungarian GM, Guyla Sax?

White to play and win by force.

(NB: There was a mistake in keying in this position, not spotted before publication, so don’t waste time finding the win – just spot the error.)